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Maersk starts tyre-kicking on LNG bunkering options

Demand for supply of bunkers in the Mediterranean region sets off a chain of enquiries as companies move to check pricing

Several companies, including Danish containership giant AP Moller-Maersk, are engaging in discussions about the supply of LNG as marine bunkers in the Mediterranean region, prompting fresh enquiries about LNG bunker vessels.

Brokers said Maersk is being linked to a project to provide a 12,000-cbm LNG bunker vessel (LNGBV) that could supply LNG as a fuel to boxships from Spain, with some suggesting a tender has been issued.

Maersk, which declined to comment, has previously said it favours low-sulphur fuel over LNG fuelling for its vessels. But those working closely with the company say the Danish giant, along with all of its large boxship competitors, are reviewing this fuelling option as they decide how best to comply with the incoming tougher ruling on ship emissions.

Others point to companies such as Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM as potential consumers. But specialist brokers in this area are playing down the interest as “a pricing exercise”.

Sources also say Spanish utility Gas Natural Fenosa is considering a design for a 7,500-cbm LNGBV. The company is understood to be working with Chemikalien Seetransport on this business.

Early this year, Gas Natural, which put out a requirement for an LNGBV newbuilding of this size last summer but slowed its progress on the business, signed a long-term deal to supply LNG as bunkers to domestic ferry operator Baleria in the ports of Barcelona, Valencia and Algeciras.

Gas Natural said it will base an LNG bunker barge in Barcelona to supply Baleria’s two dual-fuel ropax newbuildings.

The utility has also been tipped to supply LNG as bunkers to MSC Cruises’ 200,000-gt newbuildings, which will be delivered from 2022.

Volume of noise

Brokers say a number of potential suppliers of LNG bunkers who are pursuing projects are contributing to the volume of noise about LNG bunkering in Spain.

AIDA Cruises to begin using LNG in Mediterranean ports

This month, cruiseship giant Carnival Corp opened its Helix terminal in Barcelona, which will play home to the company’s next generation of LNG-fuelled cruiseships. Carnival has signed up with energy major Shell on the bunkering of its two 180,000-gt newbuildings sailing in northwest Europe and the Mediterranean.

Spanish outfits such as Repsol and Italian-owned, Madrid-based Endesa, have also indicated that they would be interested in getting into the LNG bunker sector.

In total, consultants say up to seven companies — some of which may already be supplying LNG by truck — have been investigating how to enter LNG marine bunkering.

Spain is the world’s third-largest importer of LNG, with a large network of import terminals, and the country is constantly looking at ways of diversifying its use of the supplies it is able to import.

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Maersk starts tyre-kicking on LNG bunkering options

Demand for supply of bunkers in the Mediterranean region sets off a chain of enquiries as companies move to check pricing

Several companies, including Danish containership giant AP Moller-Maersk, are engaging in discussions about the supply of LNG as marine bunkers in the Mediterranean region, prompting fresh enquiries about LNG bunker vessels.

Brokers said Maersk is being linked to a project to provide a 12,000-cbm LNG bunker vessel (LNGBV) that could supply LNG as a fuel to boxships from Spain, with some suggesting a tender has been issued.

Maersk, which declined to comment, has previously said it favours low-sulphur fuel over LNG fuelling for its vessels. But those working closely with the company say the Danish giant, along with all of its large boxship competitors, are reviewing this fuelling option as they decide how best to comply with the incoming tougher ruling on ship emissions.

Others point to companies such as Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM as potential consumers. But specialist brokers in this area are playing down the interest as “a pricing exercise”.

Sources also say Spanish utility Gas Natural Fenosa is considering a design for a 7,500-cbm LNGBV. The company is understood to be working with Chemikalien Seetransport on this business.

Early this year, Gas Natural, which put out a requirement for an LNGBV newbuilding of this size last summer but slowed its progress on the business, signed a long-term deal to supply LNG as bunkers to domestic ferry operator Baleria in the ports of Barcelona, Valencia and Algeciras.

Gas Natural said it will base an LNG bunker barge in Barcelona to supply Baleria’s two dual-fuel ropax newbuildings.

The utility has also been tipped to supply LNG as bunkers to MSC Cruises’ 200,000-gt newbuildings, which will be delivered from 2022.

Volume of noise

Brokers say a number of potential suppliers of LNG bunkers who are pursuing projects are contributing to the volume of noise about LNG bunkering in Spain.

AIDA Cruises to begin using LNG in Mediterranean ports

This month, cruiseship giant Carnival Corp opened its Helix terminal in Barcelona, which will play home to the company’s next generation of LNG-fuelled cruiseships. Carnival has signed up with energy major Shell on the bunkering of its two 180,000-gt newbuildings sailing in northwest Europe and the Mediterranean.

Spanish outfits such as Repsol and Italian-owned, Madrid-based Endesa, have also indicated that they would be interested in getting into the LNG bunker sector.

In total, consultants say up to seven companies — some of which may already be supplying LNG by truck — have been investigating how to enter LNG marine bunkering.

Spain is the world’s third-largest importer of LNG, with a large network of import terminals, and the country is constantly looking at ways of diversifying its use of the supplies it is able to import.